Detecting possible contamination, a recall will often kick in for any products that harbor disease or threaten users’ health. Unfortunately, that is the exact situation facing Family Dollar stores. Read on to find out why products across six states are being recalled, what you need to look out for and what to do about it.
Here’s the backstory
Family Dollar issued a voluntary recall of several products last week after it discovered that they might have come in contact with rodents. They were shipped to over 400 stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. If you have purchased any of the products below from a Family Dollar store in one of the six states, you must stop using them immediately. According to the FDA, some of the recalled products include:
Human foods – including dietary supplements (vitamin, herbal and mineral supplements).Cosmetics – skincare products, baby oils, lipsticks, shampoos, baby wipes.Animal foods – kibble, pet treats, wild bird seed.Medical devices – feminine hygiene products, surgical masks, contact lens cleaning solutions, bandages, nasal care products.Over-the-counter (OTC) medications – pain medications, eye drops, dental products, antacids, other medications for both adults and children.
Click here for the complete list of stores affected by the product recall. According to the FDA, rodents were found in the Family Dollar Distribution Center 202 in West Memphis, Arkansas. The recalled items were stored and shipped from Jan. 1, 2021, until last week.
What you can do about it
The company isn’t aware of any complaints relating to the rodent problem or the possibly contaminated products. You should, nonetheless, stop using any products bought from the 400 stores during the period in question. Here are some more precautionary steps:
Wash your hands thoroughly if you handled any of the recalled products.The FDA is also advising that all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and dietary supplements, regardless of packaging, be discarded.
The FDA notes that the facility might have had a rodent infestation for some time, as internal records detail “the collection of more than 2,300 rodents” last year. The FDA also found “live rodents, dead rodents in various states of decay, rodent feces and urine, evidence of gnawing, nesting and rodent odors throughout the facility” during inspections this year. You can return any products included in the recall to the store you purchased them or call Family Dollar Customer Service at 844-636-7687 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.
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